Process of making soap



Nov. 8, 1938. H. R. DlcKxNs'oN ET Ax. 2,135,283

PROCESS OF'MAKING SOAP Filed July-'25, 1955.

Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STAT- 1,

13ans PATEN FFECE PRCESS F MAKING SOAP Application .luly 25,

Claims.

This invention is a process of making soap, and more particularly relates to the manufacture of soap akes or powder.

l One of the objects of the invention is to eiiect 5 the manufacture of soap without employing the usual soap-makers vats or tanks of the type commonly employed in soap manufacture. A further object is to provide a process by means of which soap may be manufactured by directly combining the fats and chemicals used, without the use of any intermediate apparatus involving a boiling operation, A further object of the invention is to effect manufacture of soap in any form from liquid soaps to solid soaps.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one form of apparatus designed for the practice of the invention. Figure 2 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the mixing nozzle. Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating a modiiication.

Referring to the drawing, it designates a supply tank for the fats, cils, etc., either heated or cold, which is connected with the inner branch Il of a nozzle i2, in such manner as to feed to the latter by gravity. If, however, an increased pressure is desired, a pump i3 may be provided in the line between the service tank and the nozzle. Communicating with the outer conduit I4 of the nozzle i 2 is another service tank l5 adapted to contain a lye mixture, either heated or cold and which may be supplied to the nozzle by gravity, or under pressure by pump i6, if desired. By the term lye mixture or lye solution used in the specification and claims is means any of the well known sodium, potassium or other similar alkaline solutions that have been in common use in the soap making art for many years. 'I'he knowledge of the art in this particular is so well established that it is deemed unnecessary to specify such solutions with greater particularity. Y

A source of steam or other heated iiuid, indicated at Il, is also employed, the same discharging into an injector or mixer of any desired construction, indicated at I8, and located in the pipe line between the service tank I5 and the nozzle.

The nozzle l2 projects into the upper end of a collecting chamber 2t, which is provided with a discharge pipe 2i at its lower end. Said discharge pipe is connected by a pipe 22 to a collector 23, preferably of the cyclone type, having 1935, Serial No. 33,149

a discharge pipe 2d at its lower end, an exhausting device 25 being connected to the top of the separator. Pipes 22 and 2i! are controlled by valves 222L and 2i@ respectively. An air inlet opening 26 is provided in chamber 20 adjacent to nozzle I 2.

In operation, the flowing stream consisting of a mixture of lye and steam, or other heated fluid is caused to travel to the nozzle l2 and to be discharged into the collecting chamber 20. 'Ihe pressure of the flowing stream of lye mixture draws the oils and fats from the tank l0 and induces a stream thereof to also flow to said nozzle, and to be discharged into said collecting chamber. As they reach the nozzle the two streams are commingled, and atomized under the pressure of the inducing stream and by reason of their discharge into the tank 20, the size of which is suiiicient to provide for a very substantial reduction of pressure, as the mixture is discharged thereinto. In other words, the mixing of the fat constituents with the heated lye solution is effected at the nozzle l2, at the approximate instant of the discharge of the mixture from the nozzle into the chamber 26. Thus, the mixing and discharging stages are approximately simultaneous. The induced flow of the stream of fat constituents by the flow of the stream of lye solution effects proportionate mixing of the materials of the two streams at the instant of discharge, resulting in complete saponification. One of the functions of the nozzle is that by means of the induced vacuum created thereby, a supply of air is added to the atcmized mixture, if desired, through the air inlet 26. The result of the foregoing operation is an immediate sa" ponication of the fats plus the drying of the product produced, provided that drying is desired.

After the soap has been produced by the atomized step above referred to, it is collected in powder form within the chamber 2U, and may be withdrawn from the latter through the discharge pipe 2l. If desired, however, t'he collector' 23 may be placed into communication with the tank Eil through pipes 2i and 22, and thereby a more complete separation of the powdered soap may be accomplished, the moisture carried by the air being removed from the collector 2li by means of the exhausting device 25. In the event that the soap is required to be in liquid form, a greater amount of steam is used at the nozzle I2, and/ or less air is introduced through inlet 26, and in this case the liquid soap will be collected in the tank 20, and may be removed in any desired manner, as for instance through the discharge pipe 2l. When soap in solid form is desired, a powder is made containing a relatively high water content, and the powder is then pressed into cakes in a standard soap-cake machine.

While it is preferred to employ a nozzle I2 having two orifices, one of which receives a mixture of lye and heating medium such as steam, the mixer I8 may be omitted and the steam may be introduced directly to the nozzle through a third orifice, as shown in. Fig. 3.

By regulating the quantities of air and/or steam introduced into the tank 2D, the moisture content of the soap can be varied at will.

The advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it is readily obvious that an improved process of making soap is provided, whereby a more complete saponication is made possible, due to the extremely ne intermingling and emulsifying of the chemicals and the fats. An important advantage is that the saponification is made by bringing the streams of oil or fat and the chemicals into intimate relation in such manner that the soap is instantly formed, thereby rendering it unnecessary to employ vats, tanks or other intermediate boiling apparatus.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms olf its use, what is claimed is:-

1. A process of making soap comprising creating a positively flowing stream of heated lye solution, causing the flowing stream of heated lye solution to induce the flow of a liquid containing fat constituents, and effecting saponification by causing the two flowing streams to mix and then to be atomized by being discharged into space through an atomizing orifice, the mixing stage being eiected back of but closely adjacent to said orice.

2. A process of making soap comprising heating a liquid lye solution by mixing the same with steam and creating a positively ilowing stream of the mixture by the pressure of said steam, causing the flowing stream of steam and lye solution to induce the How of a liquid containing fat 'ing a liquid lye solution by intermixing the same with steam, and creating a positively iiowing stream of the mixture by the pressure of the steam, causing the flowing stream of heated lye solution to induce the ilow of a liquid containing fat constituents, and effecting saponication by causing the two flowing streams to mix and then to be atomized by being discharged into space through an atomizing orifice, the mixing stage being effected immediately back of but closely adjacent to said orifice and controlling the density of the saponified constituents by varying the proportions of steam introduced into said lye mixture.

4. A process of making soap comprising creating a positively flowing stream of heated lye solution, causing the iiowing stream of heated lye solution to induce the flow of a liquid containing fat constituents, effecting saponification by causing the two owing streams to mix and then to be atomized by being discharged into a closed chamber through an atomizing orice, the mixing stage being effected immediately back of but closely adjacent to said orice and introducing air into said chamber in such manner as to control the moisture content.

5. A process of making soap comprising creating a positively flowing stream of heated lye solution, causing the flowing stream of heated lye solution to induce the ow of a liquid containing fat constituents, effecting saponification by causing the two iiowing streams to mix and then to be atomized by being discharged into a closed chamber through an atomizing orice, the mixing stage being effected immediately back of but closely adjacent to said orice introducing air into said chamber in such manner as to control the moisture content, partially dehydrating the saponied material, and then compressing the dehydrated mass into solid increments.

HENRY RANDEL DICKINSON. HENRY H. MORETON. 

